Glasgow Airport

It has been a busy few months for Glasgow Airport and this will continue now that the school summer holidays are in full swing.

The airport played host to a regional heat of the national Faraday Challenge Day STEM project run by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) on Friday 15 May.

The secondary pupils became reallife engineers for the day when they researched, designed, and built solutions to actual aviation-based engineering problems as part of the project.

St Roch’s team came out on top on the day and as a reward for their hard work and ingenuity, all pupils involved in the challenge were invited to take part in a guided tour of Glasgow’s airfield when the challenge was complete.

This year’s challenge is in association with UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge.

Fiona Smith, Group Head of Aerodrome Strategy, said “Itreallywasanhonourtohost theregionalFaradayeventintheairport anditwasreassuringtowatchtheseyoung peoplesoengagedinfindingtheright solutionstothechallengeswesetthem.The dayalsoprovideduswithachancetoshow themthetypeofcareersavailablewithin theaviationindustry,whichisexperiencing rapiddevelopmentininnovationthe likes of which we have not seen since the introductionoflong-haulflightinthe1930s.”

The following week we welcomed the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s board to the airport.

The CAA Board members were keen to understand what the airport is doing to maintain high levels of safety, improve the passenger experience and create a more sustainable future.

The visit formed part of the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s engagement with industry across the United Kingdom to understand the range of perspectives from the multiple areas it regulates and help inform decision-making for the benefit of consumers and the public.

During a two-day visit, the regulator’s Chair Sir Stephen Hillier, Joint-Interim Chief Executives Paul Smith and Rob Bishton, along with Board members, were taken on a comprehensive tour of Glasgow Airport and met with other areas of the wider aviation industry including Loganair, Bristow Helicopters and Skyrora.

In the same week the airport celebrated the opening of The Glasgow Store. Located on the first floor of the main terminal, the new boutique features merchandise from the iconic IRNBRU and Tunnock’s brands.

Fans of ‘Scotland’s other national drink’ are now able to choose from sliders, swim shorts, bucket hats, t-shirts, and a host of other BRU-branded goods, while lovers of the legendary Tunnock’s caramel wafer and teacake can choose from an array of quality gifts including headwear, homeware and accessories.

Also available in store is the highend range from emerging Glasgow brand Albany Clothing, whose quality fashion line pays homage to the city’s iconic Duke of Wellington statue. Featuring polo shirts, hoodies and caps, each item features Glasgow’s traffic-cone-adorned mascot.

A consortium led by Glasgow Airport and net zero consulting co-developer Ikigai successfully secured funding from the Scottish Government to test the feasibility of a hydrogen production, storage and distribution hub that would support zero emission flight at the airport.

The funding was confirmed by the First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf and forms part of the Scottish Government’s £7m Hydrogen Innovation Scheme, which aims to support the development of renewable hydrogen technologies.

The Glasgow Airport Hydrogen Innovation Hub project will determine the most efficient, bankable, green hydrogen production, storage and refuelling solutions and assess the operational feasibility of a hydrogen hub at the airport.

A new artwork created by renowned

Scottish artist Gerard M Burns has gone on permanent display at Glasgow Airport.

The artwork was commissioned by AGS Airports to promote the historic and contemporary links between the group’s three airports and the regions they serve.

The set of three paintings are on display in the terminal’s main departure lounge and feature references to the coat of arms of each city and region served by Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports.

Children often feature in Gerard’s work and the three-panel piece entitled ‘One World Our World’ includes pupils from St Anne’s Primary School in the Gallowgate area of Glasgow. The children set to be immortalized in the artwork joined over 80 invited guests in the terminal today to preview the work ahead of its installation.

Gerard Burns said: “This has been an amazingprojectfromstarttofinish,and hasgivenmeachancetoreallypushthe boundariesintermsofwhatI’mcapableof as an artist.

“Themostexcitingthing,however,isthat from next week ‘One World Our World’ will have a life of its own and will be seen bymillionsofpeoplefromallaroundthe world.’’

The airport’s busiest period of the year is well underway as more than 500,000 passengers passed through the terminal in the first two weeks of the school holidays.

More than 150,000 passengers travelled through the airport in the first weekend as schools across a number of local authorities stop for the summer break. Many travellers headed for popular sunshine hotspots such as the Spanish Costas, the Canary and Balearic Islands, the Algarve in Portugal, Turkey and the Greek Islands.

City-break destinations are expected to be busy this summer, including Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Dubai.

Additional staff are on hand at peak times over the next couple of months to provide help and support to passengers as they prepare for check-in and security.

Ronald Leitch, Glasgow Airport’s Operations Director, said: “Thereisalways agreatatmosphereinterminal,particularly as the school term has come to an end and thousandsoffamiliesarriveattheairport aheadoftheirholidays.

“This summer is set to be the busiest experiencedsince2019,sowewillcontinue toencouragepassengerstoarriveatthe timestatedbytheirairlinetoallowenough timeforcheck-inandtoensuretheyare preparedforsecurityandhavetheir boardingpassesready.Ageneralruleis threehoursforaninternationalflightand two for a domestic.

“Allliquids,gelsandpastescarriedin handluggageshouldbe100mlorlessand carriedintheclearbiodegradablebags providedaheadofsecurityandshouldbe presentedoutwiththeirhandluggageat thesecuritycheckpoint.”

Bespoke Build Development Opportunities

For Lease on Scotland’s Largest Trading

Industrial, Logistics & Trade Counter

Up to 65,000 sq ft plus secure service yards and parking